Diy Tv Antenna Using Coax Cable is very easy to do. In our modern-day life, we sometimes lose our signals while watching our TV, in other times our TV antennas get spoilt and need repair. There’s no need to panic or become spendthrift looking for the perfect antenna that goes with our TVs. All we can always do is make our antenna using some available materials in our homes.
Before attempting these hacks, make sure that you get an adult to supervise you if you are underaged, and while doing this, make sure that your area isn’t wet to avoid getting electrocuted. Before you get confused, a coaxial cable is practically the same as an antenna cable, but not every coaxial cable is equivalent to an antenna, the difference is in the structure of a coaxial cable. This is to avoid confusion with any other cables.
Using your home wiring, cable, or cord as a tv antenna isn’t a terrible idea. It can also act like a big antenna to pick up the broadcast for your entertainment, sports, and other stations of your choice. All you have to do is use your home wiring as an antenna, then connect your cable to a wall adapter, and finally tune your television or radio to pick up some of your favorite broadcast stations.
A coaxial cable is a transmission line that is used to obtain data signals. It is a kind of electrical cord that contains an inner conductor enclosed by a concentric conducting shield. To receive an excellent signal, you need to know what coaxial cable is the best to obtain. There are three most used exploited coaxial cables, including the RG59/U, the RG6/U, and the most used RG11/U. The RG11 offers a more exceptional gauge than others and capitalizes more room for the transfer of signals.
A coaxial cable can be used as a means of internet connections, it can be used for a CCTV, it can also be used to get an excellent signal for videos, and it can be used to connect to the internet.
Not only are coaxial cables of different names, but they are also of different sizes and even shielding. The RF coaxial cable is used to transmit radio frequency signals. They are the standard input cords on TVs and feature a single pin, which connects the input on a gadget. The RG6 cable has more foil shields to resist electromagnetic interference. It is commonly used in different categories of commercial and residential applications. It has an impedance of 75 ohms.
It is thin and effortless to bend for ceilings and wall installations. The RG 59 coaxial cable is a specific cable that is used for poor power videos. It also has an impedance of 75 ohms. The RG 11 coaxial cable is designed for very long runs. It is so thick that it’s so hard to bend and requires specific connectors. This particular cable is tough to handle and isn’t advised for indoor applications.
To DIY a tv antenna, you would need specific tools. They include a tv, a coaxial cable, duct tape wire cutters, wire strippers, a solder, a soldering iron, measuring tape, a copper wire, a wooden board, ruler, electrical tape or heat shrink tubing, some gloves, and a protective google. After your tools are of easy reach, you would then proceed to bring your wooden board, which should be of two by three inches and should be 22 inches long. Then proceed to mark two dots on the board that should be evenly spaced.
Then get a copper wire and cut out eight sections. Each section should be about 17 inches long. You can use a marker to indicate what part to cut out, then use a pair of pliers or wire cutters to cut it off. Copper is an excellent material for antennas. The metal, while delicate and flexible, is still hard. You can order a pair of uninsulated wires or buy it from a local convenience store because using insulated wires for your antenna won’t be able to pick up signals as strongly as uninsulated cables would.
You will now proceed to join the v point of each copper wire, to the dots that you had made on the wooden board. You can attach the wires using screws and washers. Then weave the cable into the board. The wires shouldn’t be joined. When you are done, the wire will look like an x shape. Two horizontal lines should join the x shapes. You can bend the wires using your hands or a pair of pliers, any method that is suitable for you, and then take a wire and bend it to look like a v shape.
Make sure they don’t come in contact with each other so that they will be three inches apart. Twisting the wires helps get frequencies quickly and then repeat this method for each wire. Then using the hole you made on the board using a drill, you would want to make sure that the holes are in line with each other so that the antenna ears are across each other. Don’t drill totally into the hole, or else the screw won’t stay securely in place later on.
Next, you would want to put in reflectors. Two reflectors are required to be attached and spaced evenly. The reflection would go-to the back of the wooden board and can be connected with screws. Don’t tighten the screws too much as you would need to get the wires underneath later on. Then you can add a balun. To add a balun, you would need to join it to the two center sections of the wire using the guidelines included.
When you are done with these steps, you can use your coaxial cable to join the balun to a tv. Look for the plug of the tv. This should be very obvious because you will know which side of the coaxial cable goes in the balun and which side goes to the tv.
You can also use these methods to make an antenna. All you have to do is get a coaxial cord that is adequately long to go from your tv to a nearby living room window or attic window to get the best reception. Then remove a 15 cm of insulation from the coaxial cord using a pair of strippers. Once the wire is revealed, run a hand over it to straighten it out, put it vertically on your window, and attach the other end to the port on your tv to join the antenna.
Because the antenna is simple, you will be able to get only 6 to 11 channels. You can add the signal by taking an aluminum foil and completely wrapping the other end of the coaxial cable and make sure you go to your settings and switch it to antenna instead of air.
You are making an antenna using an empty can of soda, or any drink can also be accomplished. It’s not a sophisticated way, but it’s never easy to go around convenient stores and look for some antennas or browsing through online stores in search of an antenna. All you need is duct tape, a coaxial cord, wire cutters or pliers, and a ruler or measuring tape. To accomplish this task, you would first need to strip your coaxial cable to expose the insulation.
The carefully remove the insulation away. Then cut your soda can, or your empty can in two halves, staple it to a wood, and then check for the tv plug, and you will know which side of the wire goes to the tv. In case you have connected the whole thing, you would want to put up your antenna. You can either choose to put it up the attic window so that it would be convenient or look for a better place with a good signal.
Some Precautions That Should Be Taken Into Consideration Are
Always endeavor that you do these hacks when there are no kids around that area, because accidents can happen and we don’t want our kids getting hurt.
Always make sure that you have adult supervision while attempting any of these hacks or adult permission to do them.
Don’t do attempt to do these hacks when the area is wet because, as we all know, water is a good conductor of electricity, and we don’t want to get electrocuted.
Lastly place a fire extinguisher nearby if there’s a fire outbreak, and if it gets out of hand, evacuate the area and call a nearby fire department.
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